Archive for 'Traditions'
seter Posted by kari on Aug 16, 2009
place of mountain pasture. In other words, a traditional seter is a simple wooden cottage in the mountains with a barn where Norwegian bonder (farmers) bring their livestock herds (cattle, goats, and sheep) to be milked after a day of grazing in the mountain pastures. Historically, young women (ei seterjente = a dairymaid) brought the animals to the seter and remained there…
begravelser Posted by kari on Aug 3, 2009
funerals. I know that this is a depressing topic, but I have spent the last week mourning the death of a very close friend and thus got to thinking it is a topic worth learning about in terms of language and traditions for people learning a new language. Begravelser in Scandinavian history were similar to…
Sankthansaften Posted by kari on Jun 22, 2009
This is the stavkirke (stave church) in Røldal where people would make pilgramages to the crucifix for it’s healing powers. Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, other northern European countries and even some eastern and southern countries celebrate midsummer, also known in Norway (and Denmark) as Sankthansaften or Jonsok. Sankt Hans is another way of saying St. Johannes or St. John…
How do Norwegians tie the knot? Posted by kari on May 29, 2009
Et bryllup. They have et bryllup (a wedding). Today Norwegian weddings look very similar to weddings in the U.S. and other European countries. However, historically, Norwegian weddings were much more ceremonial and traditional. First of all, all brides and grooms would wear bunads-traditional Norwegian costumes. Men wore white silk shirts, dark wool stockings and knickers…
Gratulerer med dagen! Posted by kari on May 16, 2009
In Norwegian, “gratulerer med dagen” can either mean “happy birthday” or it can be said on a day like syttende mai to mean something like “congratulations on this day!” It’s almost a happy birthday to Norway-to celebrate the day that the country adopted it’s own constitution. So at midnight tonight, you should all show off your Norwegian and…
Russeknuter Posted by kari on Apr 14, 2009
Knots. No, not the kind you tie. Or the measurement for nautical speed. Or the kind that make your back hurt. I’m talking about more or less badges of fulfillment of some kind of task or dare by a Russ during the festivities leading up to Syttende Mai. The knot itself is usually an item…
Russ-not short for Russell på norsk Posted by kari on Apr 8, 2009
It’s almost that time of year again. Russetid (Russ time, the ‘u’ pronounced like a short vowel with your lips pursed in a small circle). May 1st represents the beginning of a very important celebration in Norway-graduation from high school-which lasts until May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day. You are probably wondering what a celebration like…